ByteDance’s First Doubao AI Phone Sells Out as Resale Prices Surge
The Nubia M153, an engineering prototype smartphone featuring a preview version of ByteDance’s Doubao AI assistant, has completely sold out on ZTE’s official online store. Priced at RMB 3,499 ($495), the device was released in limited quantities, leading to a sharp increase in secondary market values. On the popular second-hand platform Xianyu, unopened units are currently listed for up to RMB 4,999 ($706), representing a premium of approximately RMB 1,500 ($210) over the original retail price. This collaborative project between ZTE Corp and ByteDance highlights a strategic partnership where ByteDance’s Doubao unit managed product definition and user experience for the AI features, while ZTE’s Nubia brand oversaw hardware design, development, and manufacturing. The phone is available in a single configuration with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and features a 6.78-inch LTPO display. The rapid sell-out and subsequent price hike indicate strong consumer interest in integrated AI smartphone technologies and the growing influence of major tech firms like ByteDance in the hardware sector.
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ByteDance’s First Doubao AI Phone Sells Out as Resale Prices Surge
The Nubia M153, an engineering prototype smartphone featuring a preview version of ByteDance’s Doubao AI assistant, has completely sold out on ZTE’s official online store. Priced at RMB 3,499 ($495), the device was released in limited quantities, leading to a sharp increase in secondary market values. On the popular second-hand platform Xianyu, unopened units are currently listed for up to RMB 4,999 ($706), representing a premium of approximately RMB 1,500 ($210) over the original retail price. This collaborative project between ZTE Corp and ByteDance highlights a strategic partnership where ByteDance’s Doubao unit managed product definition and user experience for the AI features, while ZTE’s Nubia brand oversaw hardware design, development, and manufacturing. The phone is available in a single configuration with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and features a 6.78-inch LTPO display. The rapid sell-out and subsequent price hike indicate strong consumer interest in integrated AI smartphone technologies and the growing influence of major tech firms like ByteDance in the hardware sector.
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